Vernazza, a quaint fishing village, is arguably the most emblematic of the Cinque Terre and is recognized as one of Italy's most picturesque villages.
Established around 1000 A.D., it came under the governance of the Republic of Genoa in 1276.
The medieval fortress known as Belforte was constructed in the mid-1500s, primarily to safeguard the village from pirate attacks.

A splendid approach to this stunning village is by sea. The small harbor is encircled by charmingly colorful traditional Ligurian homes, while the delightful piazza features a variety of excellent restaurants and bars. Within the natural harbor lies a modest sandy beach adjacent to the Church of Santa Margherita di Antiochia. The village is enveloped by steeply terraced olive groves, renowned for producing some of the finest olive oil in Italy.

Hiking the path from Vernazza to Monterosso

Vernazza serves as an ideal starting point for excursions along the Blue Trail, which links Vernazza with Monterosso and Corniglia.
It is important to note that access to these two trails necessitates the acquisition of the Cinque Terre Card. Updated information regarding all accessible hiking trails can be found on the subsequent page: Cinque Terre trails. For those unable to complete the entire hike to the next village, Vernazza provides excellent photographic opportunities along the trails prior to reaching the checkpoints. This allows you to embark on the initial segment of the hike, approximately 10 minutes in duration, appreciate the landscape, capture some photographs, and then return along the same path without the requirement of a Cinque Terre Card.

Parking in Vernazza

The Vernassoa Car Parking facility is situated along provincial road number 51, approximately 1 kilometer prior to reaching Vernazza. This secure parking area, which accommodates around 90 vehicles, operates from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM, with availability outside these hours upon request. A complimentary shuttle service is provided to transport visitors to Vernazza. It is advisable to make reservations in advance. Additionally, the Cooperativa Vernazza Car Parking is located on the right side, just after the Vernassoa Parking. Its operating hours are from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. It is important to refrain from driving further down the road past this parking lot, as it leads into the ZTL area, which is restricted to residents only, and violations may result in substantial fines. For further details, please refer to the Parking in Vernazza page.